Anyone advertised and been told 'It's a scam'?

ValDa
ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
1000 Comments
edited February 2018 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

I've just tried to post something for sale on the Caravan and Motorhome Club 'Classifieds' section, and had an email from Caravansforsale  (who operate the Classifieds for the C&MC) in response saying 'Unfortunately, we were unable to put your advert live on Caravansforsale for the following reason: Possible Scam - Please call us on .................... to discuss your advert placement.'  

The item is by no means ridiculously underpriced, there is a lot of detail in the advert,  the photographs are my own and taken this afternoon, the address is in this country, I gave an email address and a telephone number,  I've had an 'account' with them previously when advertising something, and I'm at a loss to understand why it should have been singled out as spam.

Comments

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #2

    Is this about "spam" or "scam".  The hosts' attitude could be based on different reasons.

  • Hedgehurst
    Hedgehurst Forum Participant Posts: 576
    100 Comments
    edited February 2018 #3

    I'm guessing you'll be calling them on that number and asking for a clear explanation from a human being?

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited February 2018 #4

    Sorry, yes, my post title should have been..... "been told 'Its a scam'!" Apologies, and yes, I tried to ring, but there is only an answerphone...... or perhaps a robot!

    I do know there used to be a lot of 'scam' adverts on there, but they were usually nearly new caravans or motorhomes, advertised at ridiculously low prices, and with photographs obviously lifted from publicity material or manufacturer brochures and usually with only a mobile phone number.  Mine are obviously home grown photos, the price is moderate, in keeping with the age of the item, and  I have given my home phone number.  

    Ah well, I'll let you know what they say tomorrow.  I just wondered if this was being done with every advertisement, or whether there was something odd about mine which caused this email. 

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #5

    Hi Val.  I've changed the main title to reflect your real intention.  Hope that's OK.

    David

  • Sianelen
    Sianelen Forum Participant Posts: 85
    edited February 2018 #6

    We had the same a few years ago when we advertised our caravan for sale. When we finally managed to get it listed the only responses we received were scam's offering over the odds if we let an agent collect the caravan for a purchaser who was living on the continent. We phones the CC but were informed that they could not do anything as the adds section wasn't run by them. Would never use this again we were plagued with scam emails relating to the add for months.

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited February 2018 #7

    Thanks David!  I've just been reading the scam warnings which are sensible, but none of which could possibly apply to me, and I just wonder if my ad could have been picked up because I chose to advertise as a non-member (we aren't any more) but I actually have a C&MC login......... for Club Together.   It will be nice to find out when Caravansforsale ring me back!

    We have bought things from the Classifieds in the past, without any problems, and have also sold things without any problems but we sold our last caravan to a young couple who had been scammed out of thousands of pounds by a 'seller' of the type mentioned in the scam warning so in some ways I am glad that adverts are being checked and I suppose I started this thread out of curiousity really.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #8

    Hope you get it all sorted with EG, Val.  I suppose head  office feel that it's better to be on the safe side.

    David

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #9

    The site will be using a robot to check for scams and it has picked up something in your advert that is in the program used to detect them. There will be several words that it picks up on and possibly a long advert has at least one in. The thing is there to protect us but I am afraid it will raise the odd false alarm and it is just one of the facts of life these days.

    Many of us who were working some years back may remember a program was sold that prevented us writing to Scunthorpe. These programs are not infallible.

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited February 2018 #10

    Thanks everyone!

    The advert went live on the 13th February, *(didn't do anything other than phone and leave an answerphone message basically saying 'it's a genuine advert') and we've already got two people interested - one viewing on Friday afternoon and another on Saturday - so it was worth it!

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #11

    That's good news Val.  Best of luck.

    David

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited February 2018 #12

    Well, that's all been worth it.  We showed a couple round yesterday, they loved it, and have made an offer which we're happy to accept.  Sold within three days of the advert going live on the 13th February!  We've had three other interested parties too!  So, in the end very good news!

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